Middle-of-the-road perspectives

Democrats Should Agree To Trump’s Dreamer Proposal Now

The debate about Dreamers has overwhelmed Washington. Democrats are creating more controversy every day by looking for reasons to bad-mouth any initiatives by President Trump. Instead of focusing on Trump’s rhetoric and what may be his inner most feelings about illegal aliens, liberals should just do a deal and protect these people.

The fact is Trump is offering to protect 1.8 million Dreamers, up from 800 thousand a few weeks ago. If Democrats want to make points with their liberal base, they should rally around this development alone.

Trump also proposed a 12-year path to citizenship. No one has even attempted to address the back end of the Dreamer problem, but the president has done so. The opposition could negotiate aspects of this term of the deal, but it is a great starting point.

The other aspects of Trump’s proposal are critical. The US must find a way to integrate illegals into our society. It is unreasonable to think that authorities can round up 10 million people and send them back to their countries of origin. But ensuring the problem does not grow is shear stupidity.

The wall will help stop future growth of the illegal population. When you compare a 10, 20 or 30 billion dollar price tag to the cost of feeding and caring for 5 million more illegals (and their future offspring), the cost of the wall appears to be a good investment.

Eliminating the lottery and family migration are sensible additions to good immigration reform if keeping undesirables out is a priority. Bringing in more immigrants into the country using the lottery without strong vetting is a recipe for disaster.

Migration of families sounds like a nice thing to do, but it should not be a priority for the US. Our goal should be focused on border control not open borders. Illegals have no right to enter our country unless our government gives it to them.

It’s easy to see where this controversy is heading. Democrats will use it to denigrate Trump. If the president offered amnesty to all 10 million illegals Democrats would find fault. They want to obtain more seats in Congress and are politicizing immigration to do so.

Trump’s inarticulate rhetoric is not productive, nor is it really that important. Whether he calls the group Dreamers or something else is irrelevant if he gives Dreamers a clear path to citizenship.

Democrats, negotiate a deal and protect this group before a deal becomes impossible. If you are unreasonable and shut down the government, you will pay in November 2018 and in November 2020.

Great job Sal – Let’s see what happens. I found it pathetic when Republican’s sat on their hands during the Obama administration, preventing any good idea to stagnate and go nowhere and I now find it just as distressing to watch the Democrats do the same. These Senators and House members need to be sent a message – collaborate and work toward a sensible common goal or get out of the way and let others accomplish what the current team can’t.

Both Administrations wanted to repair the infrastructure – Let’s do it, before a bridge collapses.

From: bigjules278@aol.com [mailto:bigjules278@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 12:16 PM
To: Robert Ryan <rrya n@cgsinc.com>
Subject: Re: Gun Laws
Hey Rob-how are you doing?? I hope we’ll. Since I’m from Newtown, CN I agree w/ everything you have to say. My son’s gold medal is in his wrestling buddies coffin…. do I need to say more.

Now we need Congress to get on board.

The problem is many fold. It’s the fact that there is no need for the arsenal type of guns that were used in the school shootings.

There are those that do not want to give up their right to bear arms- that’s fine, I get their 2nd amendment rights, but they do not need the assault rifle’s. Quite frankly, my issue is not w/ these people.

I have a problem w/ mentally disturbed people (who fell off everyone’s radar) who are being allowed to buy assault rifles. These 2nd amendment people would not have even been allowed on school campus w a gun ( it’s against the law, at least here in Ct.) So it this mental health issue we need to address which seems to be the common denominator of these school shootings. Newtown and Parkland, both mentally disturbed, both allowed to buy guns .

There so many issues intertwined into this huge problem-we could even add parenting to the mix as well. It’s all of it; and, we need to fix it at some level. Just everyone do their small bit to help out and together it can make a huge difference. It’s the teacher that combats bullying in her classroom. It’s the parent that limits their children on video games and computer. It’s also the parent who seeks out psychiatric help for their child. It’s the pediatrician that educates the parent about what could be done. It’s our representatives/ senators. Everyone needs to do their small part!! Good Luck, my friend!!

On the bright side of things I am so excited for you and your new venture- that is the dream, I’m so happy you have Melanie to share it all with…. you deserve it!!!

Just don’t break a leg or get eaten by a mountain lion!!😜😜🤣😬
Love,
Julie

I am chiming in a little late here, but was grateful to Dad for putting his concern on the table for a larger discussion. Chris, my cousin, I appreciate the contrasting view as it is always helpful to see an opposing perspective related articulately, even if it is not the popular view of many of the readers here. To all the others who stepped in to say something, I think this is a good place to start.

Conversations about issues like this can be so hard, so charged and so divisive. I find they often become a rabbit hole that is hard to get out of but worth exploring to stay engaged and informed so that maybe something will shift.

I, like my dad have a deep interest in seeing that guns be far more regulated but I am not sure that guns are the issue as much as money in politics and classism. Power and the way it is distributed feel like something we all need to look at deeply. I am not sure how many people on this thread are either a person of color, or are at a poverty level income. I think that the shootings is not a lack of gun regulation as much as it is neglecting the underprivileged people and creating systems that only really support people who can afford them and leaving the traumatized people to fend for themselves.

I think all the bullet points that you mentioned Dad would be great to consider, and I also think that even if those things were in place there is a more systemic issue that lies much deeper than the weapon and the beholder of the weapon but rather the system that neglected the beholder of the weapon. I believe that it is in our educational system, our health care system and the way our government spends our money that needs to change. There are too many ignored young people because they got dealt a card that most of us don’t know about. Trauma ensues more trauma.

To Chris’s point. We have the right to bear arms in the case of our government turning on us. I actually think that they are already turning on us. But they are not killing us with weapons of destruction yet. I feel they are killing us more slowly than that. We are dependent on unsustainable structures and limited resources. And here lies the rabbit hole.

SO i will say that for me, Yes, speak up and vote and make sure that your feelings about gun control are out there, but in the meantime i think looking for ways to support the schools and programs that help under privileged people and give service to those who have been exposed to deep traumas are dealing more closely to the heart of the issue.